What are trigger bet offers?
Trigger bet offers is an umbrella term for bookmaker offers where you can get a free bet or bonus if something i.e. the trigger happens.
There are numerous variations of this offer and the trigger is often different from offer to offer.
Long term trigger bet offers
Some offers run for a longer period of time, like the offer shown below where you can bet on any NHL game throughout the season and get a free bet if the team you bet on lose in overtime.
The trigger is that the team you bet on loses in overtime.
Specific game trigger bet offers
And some offers are for a specific game only like the offer shown below.
This offer is only available for the Borussia Dortmund vs. Bayern München game.
To get a free bet you must place a bet on either Borussia Dortmund, Bayern München or a draw. In case your bet loses you will get a free bet for each goal scored in the first half of the game.
The trigger is that at least one goal must be scored in the first half of the game.
Defined number of games trigger bet offers
Lastly, we have the trigger bet offers that are available for a defined number of games like the offer below which is available to all Champions League games played within a given date range.
Here you can get a free bet if you place a bet on the goalscorer or exact score market.
If your bet loses and the game ends in a draw you will get a free bet.
Here the trigger is that the game ends in a draw.
How to profit from trigger bets?
The way to approach trigger bet offers depends on whether you can lay the trigger or not.
Both scenarios will be explained further below.
How do I know if I can lay the trigger?
First you must identify the trigger in the specific offer.
Then check if the market is available on your betting exchange. If it is not available you cannot lay the trigger.
Possible to lay the trigger
There are two ways to approach this type of offer.
Regardless of how you choose to approach the trigger bet offer, it is important to keep the loss from the qualifying bet to a minimum. This is to increase profitability.
Also, if you choose not to lay the trigger, you may experience long streaks of losses before getting a free bet. It is then important that the win from the free bet can cover your losses as this offer would otherwise not be profitable.
You should aim to lose no more than €0,50 – €0,80 per €10 staked, depending on the offer and the likelihood that the trigger will happen.
If the qualifying loss is higher than you would like, then skip the offer or look again later.
For the examples below I will use the Betrally offer shown below.
To qualify for a free bet you must place a minimum €5 bet on the goalscorer or exact score market in a Champions League game within the time period mentioned.
If your bet loses and the game ends in a draw you will get a free bet up to €20.
First thing to do is to identify the trigger.
In this case the trigger is that the game ends in a draw.
Secondly, you must decide how much you want to bet.
In this example the maximum free bet is €20. Therefore your maximum bet should be €20. Even if you bet €30 you will still only get a €20 free bet but your qualifying loss will be larger.
Example 1 – not laying the trigger
For this example below I will use the exact score market.
Remember your back bet and trigger should be mutually exclusive which means that you must not bet on the same outcome as the trigger. In this example the trigger is a draw. Therefore you should not back 1-1 as this bet cannot lose if the trigger happens and vice versa.
1Use the Oddsmatcher to find the closest match and keep the qualifying loss to a minimum. Remember to filter for the exact score market.
2Then, place a €20 bet.
3Lay the bet as normal with your betting exchange.
4We then hope that the trigger happens, i.e. that the game ends in a draw.
The game ended in a draw.
1Great, the trigger happened and you will receive a free bet
2Place the free bet as a SNR free bet.
The game didn’t end in a draw
1Shame, the trigger didn’t happen and you will not receive a free bet.
Example 2 – laying the trigger
For this example below I will use the exact score market.
Remember your back bet and trigger should be mutually exclusive which means that you must not bet on the same outcome as the trigger. In this example the trigger is a draw. Therefore you should not back 1-1 as this bet cannot lose if the trigger happens and vice versa.
For this method we place a back and lay bet on the exact score market and additionally place a lay bet on the trigger i.e. the draw.
The reason we lay the trigger is that by doing this, we make the offer risk free and ensure a profit regardless of the outcome.
If the trigger doesn’t happen, our lay bet will win. If the trigger does happen, we will lose the lay bet but will receive a free bet.
Use the Trigger Bet Calculator to calculate how much to lay on the trigger and to check if the offer is risk free.
You will find the Trigger Bet Calculator on the DoppelWetten site under Tools. Please also read our Trigger Bet Calculator User Guide.
1Use the Oddsmatcher to find the closest match. Remember to filter for the exact score market.
2Don’t place any bets yet.
3Find the trigger lay bet on your betting exchange.
4Add all the numbers to the Trigger Bet Calculator.
5Only place the bets if the total is green (profit), which means you will make a profit regardless of the outcome of the game. Move to step 6.
6Place the €20 back bet.
7Lay the bet as normal with your betting exchange.
8Lay the trigger with your betting exchange.
The game ends in a draw.
1The trigger happened. You will lose the trigger lay bet but you will receive a free bet.
2Place the free bet as a SNR free bet.
The game didn’t end in a draw
1The trigger didn’t happen but the trigger lay bet will win, which should secure a small profit. No further action required.
Not possible to lay the trigger
Sometimes it is not possible to lay the trigger, which does make the offer a bit more complex.
In this NHL offer the trigger is that the team you bet on must lose in overtime.
Let’s say that unfortunately, that particular market is not available with your betting exchange.
This means we are now faced with two triggers; 1) the game must be a draw in regular time. 2) the team you bet on must lose in overtime.
As you cannot lay the trigger it is not possible to make this offer risk free.
The simplest approach is the strategies below.
Keeping the QL to a minimum is crucial as you will have many smaller losses and once in a while a big win. The question is if your big win can cover the many small losses.
Below I have listed some strategies on how you can approach a trigger bet offer if you are not able to lay the trigger.
Which strategy you choose will completely depend on your risk appetite.
Strategies
1st strategy – Don’t lay any of the triggers:
Back and lay Team AImportant to keep QL to a minimum
Possible outcomes:
If Team A lose in overtime, you will get a free bet and will be in profit.
For any other outcome you will have a QL. Small loss.
2nd approach – Lay the draw:
Back and lay Team ALay draw
Possible outcomes:
If Team A win the game in regular time: You will have a QL for the qualifying bet, but your lay bet will win. Small profit.
If Team B win the game in regular time: You will have a QL for the qualifying bet, but your lay bet will win. Small profit.
If Team A win in overtime: You will have a QL for the qualifying bet, and your lay bet will lose. Loss.
Team B win in Overtime: You will have a QL for the qualifying bet, and your lay bet will lose. But you will receive a free bet. Use SNR for the free bet. Profit.
3rd approach – Overlay:
Back and lay Team A using the overlaying method.
Possible outcomes:
If Team A win in regular time: loss
If Team B win in regular time: QL is €0
If Team A win in overtime: QL is €0
If Team B win in overtime: QL is €0 and you get a free bet. Place the free bet as SNR. Profit.
4th approach – Lay the trigger in-play
Sometime the trigger is available to lay in-play. This strategy only works if you watch the game (or at least follow it online) and can lay the trigger as soon as it is available on your betting exchange.
Back and lay Team A. If regular time is a draw, lay Team A in-play (using the trigger bet calculator to calculate your lay bet).Possible outcomes:
If Team A wins in regular time: qualifying loss.
Check out the Forum for current Matched Betting offers.